The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-07
CLEVELAND TALKS.
His Views on Topics of In
tense National Interest.
HIS CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
He Does Not Understand Why Any
one Should Desir Q a Second Term
Save Through Patriotism.
Cleveland interviewed.


World will publish tomorrow, over the
signature of Ballard Smith, the
results of an interview with President
Cleveland, held at Oakyiew last week.
In this interview is set forth to the ex-
tent of six columns, Clevelsnd's views |
upon such topics OF national interest |
and Importance as his denomination, |
civil service reform. the financial situs-
ton, the Wheeling incident, and his |
coming visit to the south and west. |
The President said: II fully appreciate |
the valuable work which the World |
has done in the reformation of abuses |
in New York, and its efforts in |
many directions in behalf of the people.
No man in the country can know the |
embarrassments and perplexities which |
have surrounded me in attempting to |
amend the condition of public affairs. |
With these charlottesville immediate |
successful accomplishment of purpose,
but guided by every light possible to be |
made available, l know am trying to |
bring about a remedy without the
least personal ambition or intent.
Notwithstanding the natural aggrava-
ton which l have felt IN noting the az
parent disposition against me person
the World to aid in the same direction,
but the fact is, am, necessarily, the
person now to bring this reform about,
and is there any better way to secure
the accomplishment of reform than
by helping me to accomplish 1t
if he believes me honest in my pur-
poser Let me say here" Cleveland
continued, THAT if the disappointment
rising from my inability to name for
office all those recommended by near
personal and political friends were
Sufficient cause for alienation, those
who wish me well would be
very few to-day" In subsequent
conversation, the President said that
the composition of the Pacific Railway
Commission had been matter of I'M
usual thought and consideration with
him, and in view of the valuable in
question decided by Justice Field against
the commission had not been raised
earlier. Their dispatch recommending
the employment of counsel had been
answered Immediately, and full power
given them. Why such counsel had
not been employed, he had not been in
formed, but he understood that
reasonable adjournment, to examine
into the law, had been expected.
Concerning recent events in Grand
Army circles, Mr.. Cleveland said
1.-The soldier, having laid down his arms
after making so many sacrifices and
enduring so many hardships, having
achieved such a vast and good work in
perpetuating our republic, should be
pre-eminently the best citizen. When
he again, in time of peace, resumes his
citizenship, his desire for the
quiet of his country, and lis
prosperity entirely depends on this,
should be emphasized by the very
trials he has undergone. ] don't be-
the plan of that good citizenship by the |
devices of the interruptions, who would |
use him for partisan purposes"
Further he said he did not fear there |
would be any overt act at st. Louis in |
retaliation for the Wheeling incident, |
because it was contrary to what he |
knew to be the spirit of the municipal |
and commercial heads, which had In
vited him there and which he believed |
to be the spirit of the whole people of |
st. Louis.
With the progress of civil service re-
form the President is very much |
pleased. "In the first year and half |
of my administration, said the Presi- |
dent, men came here by hundreds, by |
the thousands, each company FILL
ing the room aud emptying it only
to admit another throng, and there was
come, Mr.. President, to ask that -
be removed The reason l would
say. Why, he is Republican, would
be the unfortunate answer. This was
repeated over and over and over again,
in each succt ssive case, with seem
iDgly hopeless iteration. had always,
[ could have but the same answer:
You must bring me proof of his I'M
fitness as public officer, and I under
stand very well their Inability to COM
prehend this. Knowing very well the
process which had obtained here
for so many years, 1 could
but sympathize with their in
ability, but now the formula
is altogether changed. l have not
heard that expression for many months
past. 1t is now at the outset of every {
application for a change, This man is :
unfit, a faithless public servant, and
these are the reasons Is not this
very great deal to have accomplished
Is not this a sufficient answer for the
time that has interviewed to those who
may complain that more has not been
accom- plished.'
Concerning the question of his renom- 8
nation Cleveland said: at seems to {
be the universal belief that President {
must desire a denomination. l can't
how any man who has
served one term as President could s
have the personal ambition in securing s
q second with all its solemn RESPONSE
oilities, its harrassing duties, and its
constant and grievous exactions upon
his mental and physical strength. His
it seems to me, to accept
second term, should rest entirely upon
his sense of his solemn obligation as (
citizen and an appreciation Of his duty.
when called upon to bear his particular
part of the burden of citizenship. Thus
The Office can have, at least it r
IAN have for me no personal allure l
nents. and l hope my present term
may be concluded with profit to the
county, and with as few mistakes on
ny own part as are possible to infai- :
ible human nature.